THE Federal Government's apparent wish to abolish Australia's only enforceable organic standard will kill the industry, growers say.
The National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce will no longer be enforced by the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service for the export of organic goods - and the standard and its logo will cease to exist - if the Government's preferred option for changes to AQIS is adopted.
Critics say the replacement standard is weaker, will not be internationally recognised, and will create a free-for-all where any product can be sold as organic in Australia.
While the national standard was not enforceable by law at retail level, growers said it provided incentive to do the right thing and a point of comparison.
An AQIS Organic Industry Export Consultative Committee briefing obtained by The Weekly Times reveals the Government is considering four options, but states it prefers option is to disband its organic program.
Certifying body Organic Food Chain general manager Marg Will said she was "outraged" at the proposed changes and said Australia would "lose a vital export industry".
"We were on the verge of finally being able to prosecute fraudulent organic claims, and now the Government is going to remove the entire program that supports real organic products," Ms Will said.
Organic producer Ivy Inwood said sections of the egg industry had tried to "make up their own rules" in the past, but had been discouraged by the current Organic (export) Program and its standard.
She said the program and standard were deterrents to blatantly flouting consumer expectation.
"Consumers will see eggs from cage growers labelled as organic soon," Mrs Inwood said.
"I'll no longer be able to export as overseas countries won't recognise my products without a government program overseeing the verification - our trading partners want to deal government-to-government."
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry failed to respond to The Weekly Times.
